A.G. Gancarski
We reported weeks back on concerns with Whitefish Holdings assuming the massive task of reconstructing Puerto Rico’s storm-ravaged power grid.
Florida Politics reportage raised serious questions about the “wisdom of the decision by the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) — following the guidance of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) — to trust the two-employee subsidiary of a Brazilian transformer manufacturer with such a critical project in storm-ravaged Puerto Rico.”
“Restoring the island’s electrical infrastructure is indispensable to its overall recovery efforts, and therefore, such a task is likely best left to a larger, more experienced company that can, and has, tackled crises of this magnitude,” Florida Politics contended on Oct. 4.
“An obscure, inexperienced company — one that cannot even find work and deliver results in its own backyard — should not be tasked with such a pivotal role on the Caribbean territory. Puerto Rico, an island of 3.4 million U.S. citizens, cannot afford empty promises at such an urgent time,” Florida Politics contended on Oct. 5.
In the weeks since, the story of Whitefish went from obscurity to the global spotlight, with media outlets across the spectrum raising concerns that were originally floated in our reporting — concerns that were not taken as seriously as they should have been early on.
The narrative finally has assumed critical mass: the New York Times and other outlets are reporting on Puerto Rico’s decision to cancel the $300 million contract.
“If you are in your house without power, and there’s a sense that the energy authority gave away $300 million to a company that either had or did not have experience, the reaction is not positive, and we’re seeing that,” Ricardo Ramos, head of the U.S. Commonwealth’s electrical authority PREPA, said to the Times.
The governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rossello, said the contract had become a “distraction.”
The reconstruction of Puerto Rico’s electrical grid will continue for months, and Whitefish was able to do what it did based on the use of subcontractors — such as those from Jacksonville utility JEA.
Despite the fate of the Whitefish deal, JEA is interested in continuing to work on Puerto Rican power restoration, asserted Judi Spann.
“On behalf of JEA, we are dedicated to the task at hand — making a meaningful contribution to the people of Puerto Rico by helping to get their electric system up and running as soon as possible. Our very talented and hard-working JEA crew members are in Puerto Rico now and working hard every day,” Spann asserted Monday morning.
“Whitefish was the available contracting vehicle when we extended the offer for our professionals to work. As that circumstance changes, we will work with PREPA and anyone else that may be assigned to make this devastating situation better,” Spann added.
“We are billing to cover our costs—consistent with how we and other utilities bill/pay for electric system mutual aid. WhiteFish is covering up-front all of the logistics costs (lodging, transportation etc.). Those charges are not going thru JEA,” Spann noted.
Post WhiteFish, the formula is to be determined.
JEA sent 41 workers to Puerto Rico earlier in October, reported Action News Jax.
JEA said Whitefish was handling logistics, including lodging, food and fuel for trucks. Reimbursement, Action News Jax reported, was to come from FEMA.
There are still details to be worked out about the future of Puerto Rican power reconstruction.
But what is clear: regardless of Whitefish’s fate, Jacksonville’s utility is ready to pitch in until the job is done.
